6/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 526 — Jibril Teaching Prayer Times
The Beginning Of The Time For 'Isha'
Hadith About Jibril Teaching the Times of Prayer
Sunan an-Nasai : 526
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 526
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي وَهْبُ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ مَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَهُ جَاءَهُ لِلْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ الْعَصْرَ . ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَامَ فَصَلاَّهَا حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ سَوَاءً ثُمَّ مَكَثَ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ الشَّفَقُ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ الْعِشَاءَ . فَقَامَ فَصَلاَّهَا ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ حِينَ سَطَعَ الْفَجْرُ فِي الصُّبْحِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ . فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ مِنَ الْغَدِ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ . فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ حِينَ كَانَ فَىْءُ الرَّجُلِ مِثْلَيْهِ فَقَالَ قُمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَصَلِّ . فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلْمَغْرِبِ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَقْتًا وَاحِدًا لَمْ يَزُلْ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ . فَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلْعِشَاءِ حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوَّلُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ . فَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلصُّبْحِ حِينَ أَسْفَرَ جِدًّا فَقَالَ قُمْ فَصَلِّ . فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَقَالَ " مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ وَقْتٌ كُلُّهُ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jibril, peace be upon him, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) when the sun had passed its zenith and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Zuhr when the sun has passed its zenith.' Then he waited until a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he came to him for 'Asr and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Asr.'Then he waited until the sunset, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Maghrib.' So he got up and prayed it when the sun had set. Then he waited until the twilight disappeared, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Isha'.' So he got up and prayed it. Then he came to him when dawn broke and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he got up and prayed Subh.' So he got up and prayed Subh.Then he came to him the next day when a man's shadow was equal to his height, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Zuhr. Then Jibril came to him when a man's shadow was equal to twice his length and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed 'Asr.Then he came to him for Maghrib when the sun set, at exactly the same time as the day before, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Maghrib. Then he came to him for 'Isha' when the first third of the night had passed, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed 'Isha'. Then he came to him for Subh when it had become very bright, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed Subh. Then he said: 'The times of prayer one between those two (limits).'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 526In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 527
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 526
This Hadith shows Jibril, peace be upon him, teaching the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) the times of prayer through a two-day demonstration. On the first day, Jibril came at the earlier points: Zuhr after the sun passed its zenith, Asr when the shadow equaled a man’s height, Maghrib at sunset, Isha after twilight disappeared, and Subh when dawn broke. On the second day, he came later for some prayers: Zuhr when the shadow equaled a man’s height, Asr when it was twice his height, Isha after the first third of the night, and Subh when it had become very bright. Then he said that all the time between those two limits is prayer time. This is a main Hadith for Jibril prayer times, Salah time limits, and five daily prayer schedule.
What we learn from this hadith
- Jibril taught the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) the prayer times through practice.
- Each prayer has a valid range between two limits.
- Maghrib is shown at the same time, when the sun sets.
- The Hadith uses clear signs like shadow, twilight, dawn, and brightness.
